Volunteers needed: Record wildlife crossing, roadkill at Great Swamp

In this July 19, 2012 photo, Colin Osborne, Fish and Wildlife Biologist at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge holds a new species of Leopard Frog that was discovered and confirmed this spring. The frog was identified by a Rutgers PhD student as a unique species by its single chirp. Volunteers are needed to record wildlife crossings or road kill, especially amphibians and reptiles and other species of high interest, for the Wildlife Guardians Project at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Morris County. Training will begin on Saturday, March 2, 1 - 2:30 p.m. at Helen C Fenske Visitor Center.

Walk a section of Refuge road and photograph and document the remains of animals killed or crossing.

WHEN

3 mornings a week, for 30 minutes to an hour, from March through May. Reliability is important but substitute volunteers will be available to fill in as needed.

HOW

Record wildlife crossings or road kill, especially amphibians and reptiles and other species of high interest.

SKILLS NEEDED

Willingness to do something new. Volunteers will be trained on data collection and identification.

WHY

Amphibians and reptiles travel during breeding. Some are killed while crossing roads. The information gained from this study will assist in assessing the magnitude of the problem and clarify the timing of peak movement.

Wildlife Guardians Project is a collaborative effort with Montclair State University and NJ Department of Environmental Protection.